Thursday, February 9, 2012

David Beckham speaks on fatherhood and health

David on getting older:“Even at 36, I’m still running 12 miles a game. [But] I’ve definitely become more aware on the field. I know what my limits are, what I can achieve, and which passes I can play. I have adapted to my age.”

David on the importance of family and close friends:“I’ve got friends at the different teams I’ve played for, but family is the most important thing to me. That will always be the case. I’ve got my wife. I’ve got my four kids. I’ve got parents, grandparents still, and three really good friends. It’s all you need. I’d rather have three really good friends than 20 good friends.”

David on how being stubborn has helped his career:“I am a very stubborn person. I think it’s helped me over my career. I’m sure it has hindered me at times as well, but not too many times. I know that if I set my mind to something, even if people are saying I can’t do it, I will achieve it.”

David on fatherhood:“It would be easy for our kids to sit back and not work for anything, but they’re not like that. They’re as competitive as Victoria and me. We’re very lucky with our boys: They want to win. They want to work at something. They know their values. That’s the way we’ve brought them up so far, and that’s the way we’ll continue to bring them up.”

David on how professional athletes have changed over recent years:“Sportsmen have changed over the past 10 to 15 years. When I came into the Manchester United squad, you still heard about players going out for a few beers after a game. That doesn’t happen very much now. The real professional players look after themselves a lot better than they did 10 years ago, and that’s obviously how you see the likes of Ryan Giggs or myself still playing at the top level.”

David on his potentially career-ending Achilles tendon injury in 2010:“There was only 1 day when I doubted that I’d get back to playing. It was 2 days after the operation when my bandages came off and I saw the scar. It was very different from what I’d seen a few days before, and it scared me. I think that’s the only time I’ve really felt that I wouldn’t play football again. I was emotional…I’ve played this sport for quite a few years. To think that I wouldn’t be doing it anymore upset me. But it lasted only for the day. My kids walked into the room, and that took my mind off of it. From then I was determined, absolutely determined, to get back. The surgeon told me I’d be back playing in 9 months. I was back in just under 6.”